how can text be set up to generate a number?

[jwmaes]

i would like to a word generate a number, i.e.> enter "apples"in one cell and
excel generate "352" in a different cell for items like inventory.

 

[Nick Hodge]

Basically

You will need to set up a 'Lookup' table somewhere with

Apples 352

In two columns. Complete this for all entries and then if you are going to
enter 'Apples' on another sheet in A1 then in A2 enter

=VLOOKUP(A1,Your_Lookup_Range_Address,2,FALSE)

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Ron de Bruin]

Hi jwmaes

You can use Vlookup

Make a list in a other sheets with the text and the number in the column next to it.
And use this list in your Vlookup formula

See the Excel help for examples

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

As Ron and Nick suggested, you can use a VLOOKUP formula to return the
number. There are instructions and examples here that may help you get
started:

http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html